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News Archive

Research

  • Eric Rice, assistant professor of the USC School of Social Work, has been recognized with the John B. Reid Early Career Award from the Society for Prevention Research for his innovative research on HIV and substance abuse prevention among homeless youth.

    The award is given annually to honor a promising new investigator in the field of prevention research, which focuses on the prevention of social, behavioral and physical health issues as a path to promoting overall well-being.

  • A theory not backed up by cold, hard facts is just that—a theory.

    But in the realm of social work, securing strong evidence to reinforce an assumption is not always an easy task. Variables are numerous and often difficult to measure. Investigators typically examine specific groups rather than the general populace, further complicating the process.

  • Maria Aranda, an associate professor at the USC School of Social Work and the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, has been elected a fellow in the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), as part of its Social Research, Policy and Practice Section.

  • A summer funding program at the USC School of Social Work is proving valuable to both students who need real-world research experience and faculty members who benefit from additional assistance on research projects.

    During the past five years, the Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services has provided nearly $250,000 worth of funding to support student research assistants during the summer months, including $70,000 in funding this year.

  • A select group of scholars from across the country gathered recently at the USC School of Social Work to participate in an intensive summer training institute focused on issues surrounding substance abuse among Hispanic populations.

    The 10-day program, sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and known as the Interdisciplinary Research Training Institute on Hispanic Drug Abuse, is designed to support and advance the careers of graduate students and new investigators interested in pursuing drug abuse research.

  • The Social Work Policy Institute of the National Association of Social Workers Foundation, in partnership with the USC School of Social Work and the PolicyLab of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, has issued a new report highlighting critical reforms needed to improve the health of children involved in the child welfare system.

  • A new report from the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging at the USC School of Social Work offers a glimpse into the lives of aging Latinos and African-Americans living in East and South Los Angeles and the challenges they continue to face amid the ongoing economic crisis.

    “The economic problems that have beset California and the United States have imposed a special hardship on low-income aging people in the Los Angeles areas surveyed in our report,” said William Vega, provost professor and executive director of the USC Roybal Institute.

  • The USC School of Social Work was well-represented among this year’s USC Community Service Award winners, which included MSW@USC student Carla Groves and Anthony Hassan, director of the school’s Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families, who were recognized for their extensive service in the military community. 

  • A new study by USC School of Social Work professor Suzanne Wenzel seeks to develop an effective intervention designed to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among homeless women.

    Funded by a two-year, $487,752 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Wenzel and her team will work with homeless women, HIV prevention experts, and housing and shelter service providers to create a sustainable program that can be used in everyday practice in communities frequented by homeless women.

  • Dorian Traube, an assistant professor at the USC School of Social Work, has received a USC Mellon Mentoring Award for her exemplary work with graduate students.

    The Mellon Mentoring Awards honor faculty for helping build a supportive academic environment through faculty-to-student and faculty-to-faculty mentoring.